“Socks? She’s reviewing socks?” I know – that’s what you are asking yourself right now – but stay with me.. really… these socks are WORTH reading about. I’m not usually one to pay more than $10 for a pair of socks and would have never even thought about buying these socks. However, these socks were given to me by fellow Prois gal and original badassery guide, Angie Denny from Table Mountain Outfitters. I was there in last September tagging along on my husband’s elk hunt. The first night out I acquired a huge quarter size blister on top of another blister. I was definitely in a bad way. I think I had about 5 bandages on top of one another to try to alleviate additional rubbing on the blister. By the end of the third day hunting I was miserable. The fourth morning when we showed up early to hunt and Angie saw me limping I showed her my blister. “OUCH”. She ran upstairs and brought me down some socks. I think I looked at her sort of dumbfounded and even replied “I have socks on”. She said, “Try these socks from Prois. They are really good socks, I promise.” Ok – she’s in her boots 12 hours a day, mostly 6 days a week, so I know she know’s ‘good socks’! I can truly tell you that these socks are worth EVERY penny! The reinforced toe and heel are definitely thicker than other socks I’ve tried. But the best part of the socks are truly that they keep your feet dry and after 3 days of wearing them straight they didn’t stink. Not that I put them up to my nose, but REALLY, do you need to put socks up to your nose after 3 full days of wearing them to know if they smell or not? I’m sure Angie is probably wondering where those socks went to – hmmm, should I tell her they are safe and sound in Florida with me? Shhh… we’ll just keep that little secret between us.

This sock is made with 200 thread count, patented 3 dimensional weave with an Italian weaving machine so it fits like an Italian suit; perfectly. Incredisocks are antimicrobial, odor absorbing and moisture wicking for supreme long wearing comfort which makes for the perfect travel companion. Backpacking or simply working, repetitive wearing is not an issue, they won’t need laundering. Incredisocks are the ideal choice for travelers, sports enthusiasts, or those just seeking the best comfort available in sockwear. Made from bamboo charcoal, the sleek designs only confirm Incrediwear’s commitment to perfection. This recipe ensures a perfect match no matter what your desire. Whether you are a competitive athlete, or simply have cold, tired feet, Incredisocks evoke luxury and sophistication that is unavailable in other socks. Keeping you warm when it’s cold and cool when its warm, Incredisocks performance unequivocally lives up to the promise of excellence. How do Incredisocks and Incredibraces help to increase circulation? The natural properties of bamboo release negative anions into your body causing an internal vibration of the cells and resulting in increased blood flow, which means more oxygen to the tissues. Why don’t my socks not stink after I wear incredisocks? The fibers used in Incredisocks contain anti-microbial properties that kill odor causing bacteria. In fact, Incredisocks can be worn for extended periods of time without washing. One test drive in these socks will make you a believer! Join the Incredi-movement today!

“In October, I got the opportunity to tag along with my favorite hunting partner, my husband, when he was fortunate enough to be drawn for a tag for an elk in Wyoming. So prior to heading out to Wyoming, of course I HAD to go shopping so that I could be properly outfitted with new clothes, camo that is. So I fired up my laptop and went shopping on www.proishunting.com of course! I purchased a few items with one being the Prois Ultra Hoodie. I purchased the Ultra Hoodie in one size larger than I normally wear, for I wanted to use it as a layering piece and not just as a lightweight shirt. I LOVED the bilateral zippered front pockets! They are roomy enough that I was able to put my phone, chapstick, and small pack of tissues in one pocket and actually put a full water bottle in the other pocket – all with out the fear of losing any item as we trekked along the Wyoming plains and mountains. I liked the thin moisture wicking material and the thumb holes on each sleeve. The only thing Prois could do to make this shirt the bomb would be to add the pockets in that back that are on the Ultra Backcountry shirt – hint hint! I purchased the Prois Ultra Hoodie in both Max1 and Realtree AP. The Ultra Hoodie is definitely a staple in my camo hunting wardrobe for all seasons.”

Badlands has been manufacturing hunting packs for over ten years. I first became aware of Badlands packs last June, at Cabelas , we found a pack for my husband on sale due to a zipper being busted on the pack. We bought the pack, and yes ladies, I will admit I was green with envy that my husband lucked up with the find and it would be his pack and not mine. We arrived back home and I did some searching on the internet and discovered their website www.badlandspacks.com. There in black and white was the most impressive guarantee that I have ever found with any purchased item – ever – period. This is their warranty motto, “We don’t care what happened, or whose fault it was, we will fix it for free forever. We could care less if you bought it at a garage sale or a gear swap, as long as it says Badlands, it’s covered. All we ask is that you use and abuse your pack as much as possible so we can learn how to make our products even better.” And sure enough, we packed up his bag stating the issue and the next thing I know it was as good as new! When in August hunting season rolled around I saw that Badlands had designed a pack for women – The Kali – I knew I MUST purchase that pack and try it out.

Badlands definitely knew what they were doing when they designed this pack for a female figure. The frame is a durable but lightweight steel frame that hugs your body. It has a shorter torso with contoured shoulder straps and waist belt that actually follows the curvature of a woman’s hips. I personally love all the different pockets inside the main bag as well as the smaller easy to reach zippered areas conveniently located on the waist belt. The main zippered compartment has 2 pockets and the smaller zippered front compartment has 3 smaller pockets to store those essential at your fingertips gear. The main compartment is roomy enough to hold a folded up rain suit in a clear zippered bag as well as important snacks for all day hunting, a grunt call, rangefinder and even a pair of binoculars. Both sides of the bag have mesh pockets that perfectly holds usually a water bottle on one side and my coffee thermos on the other. My most favorite feature of this pack is it has the capability to hold and strap in either my rifle or my bow. I can easily now either strap my rifle or my bow to my bag and carry the other as I like to sometimes hunt with gun first thing in the morning and change to bow as the day passes.

I would definitely recommend this Badlands pack to other women hunters (and men in our lives – take note we LOVE great packs as much as you do!)

You can find this pack and more at http://www.proishunting.com/index.php?cPath=11. The Kali retails for $159.99 and worth every penny!

Our 15 year wedding anniversary was upcoming. I was quite excited but also a little sad, for October 15th would also be one month since my dad passed with metastatic brain cancer. The week started off with the excitement of knowing we would be going….hunting! Most of the other women at work just shake their heads at me when I tell them of my excitement of going hunting for our anniversary. A few days before our anniversary as I was driving home from work, my husband called to see when I would be home. I told him, “In about 15 minutes, I told you I was picking up dinner on the way home”. I arrive home and was on the phone with my mom telling her of our upcoming trip. He was standing outside waiting on me and looking anxious. We walked into the house and I told my mom bye while she wished us luck. I put the food down on the table but then was worried. My husband had such a perplexed look on his face, I began to think that something was wrong. I said, “What’s up?”. He says, “I got you something for our anniversary. But I’m not sure if I should give it to now or later. But I think, no, I know you can use it this weekend. But I’m not sure what to do”. So now my interest is peaked and of course I’m thinking – well if I need it for this weekend, he should probably go ahead and give it to me before we leave. So he still doesn’t say anything and I’m completely perplexed because he seems to be perplexed on whether or not to give it to me and if you know my husband – he’s never indecisive, so this makes for even more curiosity. Finally he says, “I guess I better give it to you now. It’s in the bedroom”. So I go into the bedroom and see nothing (at first). I look again and under one of the pillows is a brand new Mathew’s Passion bow, all ready to shoot! I am speechless!! WOW!! (yes, of course I cry, I AM a girl still – even though I hunt!) We hurry outside to finish sighting it in before dark.

Thursday morning (anniversary day) we were up at 5am and I’m so excited I’m ready a good 15 minutes before it is time to leave. My husband takes me to one of our hunting sites that he has set up a blind for me with a 30yrd shot. At first daylight a young doe and fawn come out. Later a mature doe comes out. She is very skittish and never provides me a good shot. The morning gets later but no shots for me with my new bow. We head back out in the afternoon to the same spot. A doe comes out around 6pm by herself. We confirm it is a doe and not a button buck. Husband says if I get a shot and want to take her we have plenty of doe tags to fill. I take my shot. We wait; however the rain is starting and dark is setting. We decide to see about a blood trail. We find my arrow in the woods but no blood trail. We look and look but no sign of anything. The rain does not allow us to look any longer. Husband says for us to “When in doubt, back out”. So we leave and he says he will return the next day with good light to look for her. I can’t believe it. I was so sure I had made a good contact shot.

Saturday night we are able to return again to the same spot. We leave at 3:30 to get to the spot to give us plenty of time to allow the woods to settle after our arrival. We sit and we sit – nothing. We even joke and husband says, “It can change with the twinkling of an eye”. Finally at 6:30 a little spike comes out. I know I won’t shoot him, but I’m grateful to finally see something that night. The spike is very nervous. You see, on Friday, while I was working, and Steve was out looking for my doe by himself, he set up a new trail camera. This little spike almost does a backflip to get away from the trail camera. It is almost 6:45 and I’m thinking ‘poor bow’. Husband and I are watching the spike and both at the same time notice he is looking intent to the north of us. We both comment saying, another deer must be coming. I think nothing more about it and begin to slowly gather my belongings. All of a sudden I hear my husband say “Babe, get your bow, there is a Big Monster coming. I am not kidding. I will back you up with my pistol”. I look up and all I see is antlers and I know he is not kidding! I say, “He’s huge”. He says, “Take your time. He’s coming within range”. Oh my goodness. He is beautiful. He stays at 28yrds broadside. But wait, I can’t shoot – he’s standing behind a 3ft small pine tree. I tell my husband to shoot him with his pistol. He is at one window and I am at the other in the blind. He has his pistol cocked and ready to go. He tells me, “You can do it. Take your time. Do you have a shot?” I reply, “No. He’s behind the pine tree. You shoot him”. The monster buck is still standing broadside at 28yrds but almost like he knew he was behind the tree. Husband gets ready to pull the trigger. We are both saying, “This buck is going down”. All of a sudden the trail camera clicks, triggered by the small spike, camera flashes and the buck bolts like lightening. We are both speechless. Not sure which one of us is more upset. I can’t talk and I’m even still shaking. The disappointment in the blind measured at a heavy 10. We finally gathered our disappointment and our belongings and leave the blind after dark. We walk together in silence back to the truck. We arrive back at the truck and both begin to laugh. We are in awe and cannot believe that had just happened. I tell him that even though we did not get that big buck that sometimes hunting is not about the kill but was about the experience. I told him I was thankful to have been given the opportunity to have seen that big buck and to have been with him and even though that buck was not in the back of the truck that I had a great time with him and wanted to thank him for giving up his own hunting time to sit with me. So the Mathews Passion may not have had a story about the first great kill, but I’ll always have a wonderful story of the Monster Buck on our anniversary. Just know this Mr. Buck – I’ll be back….hopefully you will too!